Creative Space for Wanderers
Chapter 7 Counterfeit Christians This chapter presents a poignant story from Manning’s visit to a rehabilitation center, one that left me speechless. The point of the story is to evoke an emotional response, but more than that, it’s to force us to evaluate our response. Imagine if this were a Candid Camera episode where a …
Continue reading “Ragamuffin Gospel: #7 – Paste Jewelry and Sawdust Hot Dogs”
Summary Many times when people ask this question, they are in the midst of great suffering. Jesus himself warned us we would all face trials and suffering; it’s important to help our friends see this truth with love. As Christians, we believe in three seemingly incompatible truths — God is good, God is great, and …
Chapter 4 Saved Sinners The subtitle for this chapter should be Saved Sinners as Manning uses this term several times directly and indirectly. The emphasis makes sense: we are all sinners, the distinction is only between those who have accepted Christ and those who have not. One of my goals in life is to be an encourager, …
Summary Many people believe Jesus was given a “divine promotion” after his crucifixion that he never claimed for himself. Contrary to that belief, the dramatic explosion of devotion to Jesus points back to his teachings as the source. The New Testament record affirms that Jesus was believed to be the Messiah and that Jesus’ followers …
Summary The opening story in this chapter depicts what appears to be a conflicting account of a tragic accident. This is ultimately resolved to show how both parts of the story were correct and sets the stage for improving our understanding of how the gospel accounts are told from different perspectives and how this actually …
Summary From Dawkins we read, “Today the theory of evolution is about as much open to doubt as the theory that the earth goes around the sun” (The Selfish Gene, 1976) and “It is absolutely safe to say that if you meet somebody who claims not to believe in evolution, that person is ignorant, stupid …
Continue reading “Ten Questions: #2 – Didn’t Evolution put God out of a job?”
The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers) The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers), by Mark Mittelberg Here are my notes on the referenced book to be used for group discussion. Introduction Right off the bat we’re reminded of 1 Peter 3:15-16, “…do this in a gentle and respectful way.” …
Chapter 1 In this chapter Manning provides a strong argument that the institutional church in America is moving in the wrong direction, with the wrong message and misguided leadership. “The institutional church has become a wounder of the healers rather than a healer of the wounded.” Far too much emphasis is being placed on “what …
Continue reading “Ragamuffin Gospel: #1 – Something is Radically Wrong”
Palm Sunday marked the triumphal entry of Jesus in Jerusalem just days before his crucifixion. Just after his entry he clears the temple courts by overturning the tables of the money changes and chasing out those who were buying and selling. Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all …